Figure toy



Nov. 8, 1927.

H. C. KENLY FIGURE `TOY 2 Sheets-Sheetv 1 lFiled Sept. 14. 1926 Jenrfu O. Ken/1215 Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

. renato@ UNITED STATES PATENT omer..

. HENRY'CLOSSON-KENLY, 0F EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

FIGURE TOY.

Application led September/14, 1926. Serial No. 135,379.

This invention relates to ligure to s and more particularly to to s of the dol type, andthe method of pro ucing the same.

Figure toys have been used in large numbers during recent years and'many- 0f these toys have been employed for ornamental purposes, sometimes being displayed upon garments when of miniature formation, and in the home. To s of this type have usually been painte or otherwise coated in order to give the same a finished appearance, but itv has long been recognized that itis important to form these` figure toys which simulate animals, with a covering to give an appearance of hair, fur, or feathers, and to select the particular finish or c0vering according to the animal represented.

Various. attempts -have been made to produce these figure toys with a finished cover- 2o ing of the type above referred to, but it has been found diiiicult and quite expensive be' cause the toys were rst made into the proper configuration and thereafter covered with a fabric or other similar material, which when in. sheet form required cutting and fitting around the various extensions from the body. In some instances, partcularly in the manufacture ofy small toys,'the cut sheet material has been adhesively secured to a base previously formed into proper shape, while in larger toys the covering vhas sometimes beeny sewed in Inl practicing either 'of these metho much time is necessarily consumed and, therefore, many figure toys have been manufactured without' la fabric covering, and have been merely decorated with a liquid coating com-I position of a character that permits its application with a brush.

The resent invention has for fits object the production of a figure toy face covering of unwoven rous material. The invention includes the formation of the toy with a fibrous covering, the fibers being anchored in the support by means of which thereon a vfibrous covering, the covering hav-- ing beenapplied thereto previously to the .utilization of the strand in the construction 5 of the toy. A'toyconstructed fromstrands t tion.

(psosition.

having a sur-4 the configuration of the toy is retained, so

of this character has no metallic wires visible upon its surface as the fibrous'covering for the wires of each strand is present upon the entire surface and conceals the wlres regardless of the manner in which they are twisted in the constructing of the toy. The method of producing this toy also forms a.' part of the present invention. Other objects and .advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Figurel is 'a perspective view of a toy formed to resemble a dog, the'dog being made in accordance with the present inven- Figl 2 is a diagrammatical view of the several strands from which the toy is constructed, the strands being shown in the p0- ysitionin which they are placed and initially secured together before hey are bent or twisted for the purpose of forming the completed toy shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to 2, withA the strands froml which the toy is constructed in the formation into which theya're bent during the toy. y n

Fig. 4' is a transverse sectionalv view through the body of the to shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5v is` an enlarged ,lt'ail view of the preferred form of strand from which they toy is constructed.

Fig. 6 is a view of a toy resembling apelicammade in accordance with the presentv invention; and

Fig. 7 isa diagrammatical view of the strands as initially associated for forming the to shown in Fig. 6, this formation being a mo ication so that strands colored previous to incorporation into the toy .may be utilized to ive the appro' riate color effect frequently `ound in anima s of this general j Referring to the drawings in detail, .the numeral l designates lthe body portion of a toy such as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, from which' the front and back legs 2 and 3 respectively, the tail 4, Vandthe neck 5 -ex tend. Feet 6 are formed at thelower end of each ofthe legsy 2 and 3, each foot being anotherv stage of the construction of `vformed of aportion 7l whichextends at a right angle'tol each of the legs 2 and 3,-thej1,10

portion 7 being bent upon,` itself in the man.

ner shown at8, around the leg as at 9 to a point adjacent the front of the completed foot, at which point the strand is severed. The neck extends forwardly to a point where the association of additional strands permits the format-ion of the head 10 provided with ears 11. p

In accordance with the present methodof constructing the to shown in Figs. 1 to 5 1nclusive, two stran s 12 and 13 are placed in position so that each cont-acts with the .other at a pointy near its center. Another strand 14 is then placed upon strands 12 and 13 so that its central portion lies adjacent to the point of contact between these strands. Strand 15,

which is provided with a portion 16 extending at a right angle thereto, is then placed with the portion 16 in contact with the three strands 12, 13 and14, along the central portions of these strands. The strand 15 is then spirallywound upon strands 12, 13 and 14 and upon the portion 16 until these strands are bound together for a length sufficient to be utilized to form the body portion 1 of the completed toy. The strand 15 is then severed and the end thereof embedded between the several strands.

The portions ofthe strands 1-2, 13 and 14 which extend beyond the spirally wound strand 15 are each bent to form the extension which the respective portion is intended to represent. Each ofthe extending portions of strands 12 and 13 are bent downwardly at substantially a right angle to the body portion formed by the spirall wound strand 15 to provide the front and ack legs'2 and 3. Each of these legs is then formed with a foot 6 as above described. In constructing the toy resembling the dog as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the back egs are made slightly r than the front legs sothat they can lon be Of course, when it is intended to form an animal of the quadrupedv class other than af dog, the relative len h of the fore orhind legs will be governe' accordin to the particular animal which is intende to be' simulated. l s

When the toy has reachedthis stage of construction, the strand 14 is bent upon itselfV ata soint spaced from the spirallv wound stran 15, anda strand 17 with a right-angled extension 18, is placed with the exten-v sion in contact-with the folded ortion 19vof the strand 14 so that three t icknesses of strands are arran ed one upon the other. The strand 17 is t en wound spirally upon the extension 18, andthe strand 14 at the folded rtion19 backwardly to a poi-nt adjacent t e 'en'd ofthe folded portion 19. Another strand 20 is-.loopedaround the strandA 14 directly behind the point of termination of the folded portion 19,' so that two extensions'21 and-22 are provided. The strand 17 is then further spirally wound to a point bent to 'resemble the back legs of a dog.'

formed. In order that the extensions 21 and 22 resemble ears, they are bent outwardly and` downwardly and then severed as indicated in the drawings.

If desired he toy may be spotted to give various color effects, but in man instances it is found desirable to utilize di erent colored strands in the construction of the toy so that the necessit of coloring thev completely formed toy is eliminated.

While I have described above a construcpractically -all animals by the appropriate variation of the lengths of the strands, and by appropriately bending the same, I have found that slight changes in the arrangement of the strands will permit better simulations of wings or similar fore limbs of birds, fowls and the like. In Figs. 6 and 7 of thezdrawing, I have shown a simulation of a pelican which will suflice to illustrate the general formation and method of constructing this modified type of toy; but, lof course, in this modified construction, as in the previously described construction, detail chan es may be madeto'permit more exact simu various animals. 1 In constructing the toy shown in Figs. and 7, a V-shaped strand 23, preferably of a color suitable for forming the wings of the bird represented, is assocated with a second V-shaped stra-ndy 24, preferably of a color suitable for forming the legs of a bird, so that the strands are crossed with their apexes in contact. The strand 23 is then twisted as at 25,for a short distance so that the strand 24 is securely held thereto. The twisted portion 25 is then placed in 'contact with the central ortion of' a strand 26 which ma be of aco or suitable to represent the neel):7 27

and the tail 28 of the bird. Of course when,

it is desired to form a tail of varyin colors, the strand 26 may be folded upon ltself so as to retain in the fold a plura ity of other .colored strands which projecty rearwardly and are bent to proper formation whenthe toy has been otherwise completed. v

The strand 26 is Ithen secured to the strrnds 23 and 24 .by placing av right-angled extension 29 of strand 30'in contactv'vith the `twisted portion 25, and Vthereafter spirally winding the other portion of the strand 30 upon the extenslon 29, twisted portion 25 and ation of v the finished toy. If the tail is to be formed.v

entirely from the strand 26, it is desirable to bend the strand 26 at right angles at a point adjacent the spirally wound strand 30, and to fold it upon itself as at 31, where after it is formed with a similar folded extension 32 axially arranged relative to the central portion of the strand, and to then form another right-angled folded extension 33 directly opposite the folded portion 31. The strand may thereafter be extended forwardly when the tail is formed prior to the winding of strand 30, or may be severed adjacent the base of the extension 33 as desired.

At this stage of construction the arms of the V-shaped strand 24 are bent downwardly with angular portions to resemble legs 34 and 35 respectively, having formed lat their lower ends feet 36 which maybe made in the same manner as feet 6 described above. Because of the fact that the legs 34 and 35 are each formed from the same strand the color of the legs will be uniform.

The next step in the construction of this toy is to bend the arms of the V-shaped strand 23 outwardly from 'a point adjacent the end of the spirally wound strand 3 0, and to subsequently fold each of said arms at a point equidistant from the strand 26, so that the arcuate extensions directed toward the opposite end of the spirally wound strand 30 may be formed. This formation of the arms of the V-shaped strand 23 provides parts to represent wings 37, and like the legs 34 and 35 they are uniform in color because they are formed from a single strand.

The head 38 is preferably formed at the extreme end of the strand 26, the neck 27 having been first made by bending the forwardly extending portion of the strand 26 in an appropriate manner. In forming the head 38 and the bill 39,'it being desirable in .the toy representing a pelican or similar bird to form the bill from a separate strand 40, the strand 26 is folded upon` itself at 41 to engagea portion of the strand 40 intermediate its end, so that the strand 40 will have one end terminating at the extreme forward portion of the bill, which will give a somewhat pointed'effect. The strand 40 extends backwardly frdm the end through theloop 41 and then forwardly under the .first length toa point slightly behind the said end,

where it is looped over the first length and downwardly to a point below the second length, and thereafter is continued backwardly and secured around the strand 26 behind the loop 41. Another strand 42, provided witlia right-angled extension` 43, is

placed with the extension adjacent the loop 41, and the-extension and adjacentv strands l are then'n bound together by winding .the

strand`42 upon the Vsame until a substantially ,spherical portion, which` is utilized as the head 38 of the lfinished toy, is formed..

ortions comprising longitudinally extending This modified toy, like the toy previously described, may be suitably marked to represent eyes and other features.

In constructing a toy in accordance with the present invention, it is preferable to use a strand'similar tothat shown in Fig. 5.

The strand may be made from metallic wires p 44, although any comparatively stiff'material may be employed; one'of the wires beingA held in position while fibrous" material 1s laid transversely there-across, and a second wire then placed. upon the fibrous material, whereupon the two wires with the fibrous material are twisted together so that thefibrous material is' anchored tightly therebetween and gives to theA entire structure-the'. appearance of a fibrous strand or threadl which is well adapted"v for use in representing hair or fur.

Various modifications may-be made in'the detail construction of other animal shapes, and it is intended that the invention shall be broad enough to cover'the construction of anima'lsinot specifically illustrated. Al-

though I have constructed numerous to s having configurations of various anlmals, e examples illustrated will suffice to give a clear and full understanding of the invention.

l/Vhat- I claim is: y

l. In a figure toy including a head, a body,

and limb portions, the body and head coming elements extending transversely therearound, said transversely extending reinforcin elements and the limbportions being provi ed. with a covering of unwoven fibrous material secured thereto, which fibrous material has fibers extending outwardly therefrom, whereby the fibrous material ,where visiblelupon the exterior of the completed toy presents a fur-like surface.

3. In a figure toy including a head, a body, and limb portions, the body 'and' head reinforcing elements and other reinforcing elements extending transversely therearound, said transversely extending reinforcing elementsl andthe limb portions being provided` with a covering of-unwoven fibrous material securedY thereto which fibrous material has .fibers extending outias' rand limb vof the strands of this portion including a supporting element and acovering secured range Vand limb portions," the body thereto ot' unwoven fibrous material aving fibers extending outwardly therefrom,y the bers extending from adjacent strands arranged along the surface of the portion cooperating to produce a'continuous fur-like exterior.

5. A figure-toy comprising a bod portion, f 'a head and limbs, the head and bo x portion each -being of a unitary nature and formed ofa lurality of strands, the strands .ar-

d) along the .surfaces of the head and body portion including a supporting element and a covering secured thereto of unwoven fibrous material having bers extending outwardly therefrom, the bers extending from adjacent strands arranged along these surfaces cooperating to produce a continuous fur-like exterior.

6. In a figure toy including a head, a body ortion comprising longitudinally extendmg reinforcing elements and at least one other reinforcing element extending transversely therearound, said transversely extending reinforcing element being provided with a covering of unwoven brous material secured thereto, said brous material having bers extending outwardly therefrom whereby portions of the brous material which are arranged adjacent one another along the surface ofthe body cooperate to present a fur-like exterior for the body.

7. A figure toy including body, head and limb portions, at least one portion rof the toy being of a unitary nature and made of a plurality of lstrands bound together, the strands which form the surface thereof comprising reinforcing elements of wire spirally twisted having bers anchored therebetween, said fibers providing a covering therefor which presents a substantially continuous fur-like exterior. v t

8. The method of forming gure toys which comprises clamping bers between two wires'by spirally twisting the same to form a strand, so that the bers form a covering for the wires and extend outwardly therefrom, placing a plurality of such strands in substantially parallel relation and bindingv the same together by winding another similar strand closely therearound to form a body. portion, while permitting the free ends y of the parallell strands to project therefrom,

lbending the projecting ends to resemble limbs, whereby the body portion due to the strands being closely wound therearound is providedwith a surface that resembles fur and the like. Y

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

HENRY cLossoNKnNLYj- 

